Liquid-Fuel Burner with Brick Member

ABSTRACT

A liquid-fuel burner apparatus for a fireplace using a liquid fuel. The apparatus includes a fuel-containment housing having walls forming a housing upper edge, the fuel-containment housing being adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member. The porosity of the brick member is sufficient to support a continuous flame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in the fuel-containment housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related generally to fireplace apparatus which utilizeliquid fuel and, more specifically, which utilize a porous, fuel-wickingbrick member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

So-called “ventless fireplaces,” i.e., fireplaces which burn gel orliquid fuel, exist in a variety of forms. Such fireplaces typically haveseveral advantages over various more-traditional fireplaces in thatventless fireplaces cleanly burn their fuel, are often portable, and maynot require installation. Typically, it is advantageous for a ventlessfireplace to include some sort of mechanism to facilitate flame positioncontrol. It is to porous brick members and related control apparatusthat this invention is primarily directed.

In the ventless fireplace field, there is a need for an improvedrefillable and adjustable burn apparatus for use in a variety ofventless fireplace applications. One such application is ventlessfireplaces for walls (or a free-standing fireplace), as may be used inhomes, apartments, porches or the like, or even outdoors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a liquid-fuel burner with a porous brick member for afireplace for liquid fuel. The liquid-fuel burner of this inventionincludes a fuel-containment housing having walls forming a housing upperedge, the fuel-containment housing, the housing being adapted forinsertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick member therein. When theporous brick member is inserted in the housing, the brick member has avertical dimension extending from a lower surface within the housing toan upper burn surface at or near the level of the housing upper edge.The porosity of the brick member is sufficient to support a continuousflame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in thefuel-containment housing. The liquid-fuel burner of this inventionincludes a cover over the housing, the cover having a main portiondefining a flame aperture over the upper burn surface of the brickmember and a shutter member movable with respect to the main portion foropening and closing the flame aperture.

In preferred embodiments, the flame aperture is elongate and the upperburn surface of the brick member is dimensioned to extend under andbeyond the full length and width of the flame aperture and in contactwith the main portion of the cover, thereby to facilitate flame sizelimitation and flame position control and to provide a flame as broad asthe flame aperture.

Preferably, the fuel-containment housing is elongate. It is alsopreferred that the brick member itself be elongate and approximating thelength of the (preferably rectangular) housing. The housing and brickmember can also be square, round or a variety of other shapes and sizes.The porous brick member is preferably dimensioned such that liquid fuelcontacts the lateral surfaces of the brick member.

In highly preferred embodiments, the porous brick member has lateralsurfaces. The fuel-containment housing includes a bottom surface withbrick-positioning members affixed thereto in positions to engage thelateral surfaces of the brick member. It is highly preferable that thecover include an undersurface having a brick-engaging lip affixedthereto to engage the lateral surfaces of the brick member, thereby tofacilitate flame position control.

In preferred embodiments, the main portion of the cover includes a fuelopening for refilling the fuel-containment housing. It is also preferredthat the fuel opening includes an externally-threaded removable closureand a tube with an upper edge affixed to and substantially flush withthe main portion of the cover. Preferably the fuel opening also includesa lower edge within the housing. The tube being internally-threaded forengagement with the closure.

It is highly preferred that the housing be a secondary containmentvessel free of apertures to facilitate containment of spilled fuel, anadvantage given the typical uses of ventless fireplace apparatus. Tofacilitate this, the housing upper edge projects above the fuel openingto facilitate containment of possible fuel spillage during filling.Preferably the liquid-fuel burner apparatus uses a fuel such asisopropanol and ethanol in a liquid form.

It is preferable that the liquid-fuel burner apparatus of this inventionbe dimensioned for removable use with a wall-unit or free-standingfireplace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment including the above-notedcharacteristics and features of the invention. The invention will bereadily understood from the descriptions and drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid-fuel burner positioned in awall-unit fireplace and having a brick member in accordance with thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 withthe shutter fully open and having a directional arrow which indicatesthe movement of the shutter.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 withthe shutter fully open.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 withthe shutter partially open and having a directional arrow whichindicates the movement of the shutter.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 withthe shutter closed and having a directional arrow which indicates themovement of the shutter.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1, showingamong other things, the brick member, brick-positioning members andbrick-engaging lip.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with theshutter open, showing among other things, fuel contacting the brickmember.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with theshutter open.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with theshutter partially open, showing among other things, the brick member,brick-positioning members and brick-engaging lip.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1 with theshutter closed, showing among other things, the brick member,brick-positioning members and brick-engaging lip.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the liquid-fuel burner of FIG. 1showing use of a hooked tool for opening and closing the fuel opening.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a wall-unit fireplace with theliquid-fuel burner removed.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a free-standing fireplace with theliquid-fuel burner removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the figures, this invention is a liquid-fuel burner 10 witha porous brick member 12 for a fireplace 14 for liquid fuel 16. FIGS. 1and 14 illustrate one such ventless fireplace, namely, a wall fireplace14 in which liquid-fuel burner 10 is removably inserted in a space madeto accommodate such apparatus. FIG. 15 illustrates that liquid-fuelburner can also be removably inserted into a free-standing fireplace 14.

The liquid-fuel burner 10 of this invention includes a fuel-containmenthousing 18 having walls 20 forming a housing upper edge 22 as seen inFIGS. 1-5. In some embodiments, a gasket member (not shown) may contacthousing upper edge 22. The housing 18 is adapted for insertion of aporous, fuel-wicking brick member 12. Porous brick member 12 is insertedin housing 18, brick member 12 has a vertical dimension 24 extendingfrom a lower surface 26 within housing 18 to an upper burn surface 28 ator near the level of the housing upper edge 22.

The porosity of brick member 12 is sufficient to support a continuousflame 30 at upper burn surface 28 with fuel 16 present infuel-containment housing 18. Brick member 12 can be made of a variety ofmaterials which are selected for certain features including openporosity and the ability/rate at which fuel 16 can be wicked. Mullite orother refractory materials with a similar open-wicking porosity arepreferable for brick member 12.

Liquid-fuel burner 10 of this invention includes a cover 32 over housing18 as seen in FIGS. 1-15. Cover 32 has a main portion 34 defining aflame aperture 36 over upper burn surface 28 of brick member 12 and ashutter member 38 movable with respect to the main portion 34 foropening and closing flame aperture 36. (In some embodiments, a gasketmember (not shown) contacts main portion 34 of cover 32). Shutter member38 is hinged to cover 32 as seen in FIGS. 2-5. A piano hinge or othertype of hinge may be used for such purpose. FIGS. 2 and 4-5 illustratethe path shutter member 38 travels between an open to closed positionand between a closed to open position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, flame aperture 36 is elongate and upperburn surface 28 of brick member 12 is dimensioned to extend under andbeyond the full length and width of flame aperture 36 and in contactwith the main portion 34 of cover 32. This facilitates flame 30 sizelimitation and flame 30 position control and provides a flame 30 asbroad as the flame aperture 36. Brick member 12 can be dimensionedsimilar in shape to housing 18, however, this is not necessary. It isdesirable (however, this is also not necessary) that there not be a gapbetween upper burn surface 28 or brick member 12 and cover 32.

As seen in FIGS. 1-6, fuel-containment housing 18 can be elongate.Fuel-containment housing 18 in alternate embodiments can be differentshapes as seen in FIGS. 7-10.

Brick member 12 itself is preferably elongate and preferablyapproximates the length of the housing 18 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 11-12.It should be noted that housing 18 and brick member 12 can also becylindrical, square, round or a variety of other shapes and sizes. Insome embodiments housing 18 and brick member 12 are both round, in suchembodiments cover 32 can be removably threaded onto and off of housing18.

Porous brick member 12 is preferably dimensioned such that liquid fuel16 contacts lateral surfaces 40 of brick member 12 as seen in FIG. 7.This allows brick member 12 to wick the liquid fuel 16 and thereby allowa continuous flame 30. FIG. 7 illustrates liquid fuel in housing 18 andalso contacting brick member 12.

Porous brick member 12 has lateral surfaces 40 as shown in FIGS. 7-10.Fuel-containment housing 18 includes a bottom surface 42 withbrick-positioning members 44 affixed thereto in positions to engage thelateral surfaces 40 of brick member 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 7-11.Cover 32 includes an undersurface 46 having a brick-engaging lip 48affixed thereto to engage the lateral surfaces 40 of brick member 12,thereby to facilitate flame 30 position control as seen in FIGS. 6 and12.

FIGS. 4-5 and 11-12 illustrate that main portion 34 of cover 32 includesa fuel opening 50 for refilling fuel-containment housing 18. Fuelopening 50 includes an externally-threaded removable closure 52 and atube 54 with an upper edge 56 affixed to and substantially flush withthe main portion 34 of cover 32 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 11-12.

Hooked hand tool 60, as shown in FIG. 13, can be used to open and closefuel opening 50 by removing and replacing closure 52, for easy fuelrefilling. Preferably, fuel opening 50 also includes a lower edge 58within housing 18. Tube 54 is internally-threaded for engagement withclosure 52.

In preferred embodiments of this invention, hand tool 60 (shown in FIG.13) facilitates hand-free operation and adjustment, thereby avoidingconcerns about hand contact with hot objects. Tool 60 can also be usedfor scrapping possible residue off of housing 18 after use. Tool 60 canbe manufactured in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and does notnecessarily need to have a hooked shape.

As seen best in FIGS. 2-5, housing 18 also is a secondary containmentvessel free of apertures to facilitate containment of spilled fuel, anadvantage given the typical uses of ventless fireplace apparatus. Tofacilitate this, housing upper edge 22 projects above fuel opening 50 tofacilitate containment of possible fuel spillage during filling. Housing18 can have housing walls 20 which project upward and above the surfaceof cover 32. Housing upper edge 22 can also be shaped to have a lip 62which hangs over housing walls 20 as seen in FIGS. 3-5 and 8-10. Inalternate embodiments, lip 62 is not present as seen in FIGS. 2, 6-7 and12.

Many types of liquid fuel 16 can be used for liquid-fuel apparatus 10.It is preferable that liquid-fuel burner apparatus 10 uses a fuel suchas isopropanol and ethanol in a liquid form.

The apparatus 10 of this invention is preferably fabricated of metal,such as stainless steel or the like. Fabrication is primarily bywelding, as is well-known in the art of ventless fireplaces. A widevariety of dimensioning is also possible, although it is highlypreferred that the relatively large capacity of the housing 18 and therelatively small size of the flame aperture 36 be such as to provide along burning time, i.e., a long time before the need arises to replenishthe fuel in the fuel-containment housing 18.

While the principles of this invention have been described in connectionwith specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that thesedescriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention.

1. A liquid-fuel burner apparatus comprising: a fuel-containment housinghaving walls forming a housing upper edge, the fuel-containment housingbeing adapted for insertion of a porous, fuel-wicking brick membertherein; the porous brick member, when inserted in the housing, having avertical dimension extending from a lower surface within the housing toan upper burn surface at or near the level of the housing upper edge,the porosity of the brick member being sufficient to support acontinuous flame at the upper burn surface with fuel present in thefuel-containment housing; and a cover over the housing, the cover havinga main portion defining a flame aperture over the upper burn surface ofthe brick member and a shutter member movable with respect to the mainportion for opening and closing the flame aperture.
 2. The liquid-fuelburner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flame aperture is elongate andthe upper burn surface of the brick member is dimensioned to extendunder and beyond the full length and width of the flame aperture and incontact with the main portion of the cover, thereby to facilitate flamesize limitation and flame position control and to provide a flame asbroad as the flame aperture.
 3. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus ofclaim 2 wherein the fuel-containment housing is elongate.
 4. Theliquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shutter member ishinged to the main portion of the cover.
 5. The liquid-fuel burnerapparatus of claim 1 wherein: the porous brick member has lateralsurfaces; the fuel-containment housing includes a bottom surface withbrick-positioning members affixed thereto in positions to engage thelateral surfaces of the brick member; and the cover includes anundersurface having a brick-engaging lip affixed thereto to engage thelateral surfaces of the brick member, thereby to facilitate flameposition control.
 6. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 5 whereinthe porous brick member is dimensioned such that liquid fuel contactsthe lateral surfaces of the brick member.
 7. The liquid-fuel burnerapparatus of claim 1 wherein the main portion of the cover includes afuel opening for refilling the fuel-containment housing.
 8. Theliquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fuel openingincludes: an externally-threaded removable closure; and a tube with anupper edge affixed to and substantially flush with the main portion ofthe cover and a lower edge within the housing, the tube beinginternally-threaded for engagement with the closure.
 9. The liquid-fuelburner apparatus of claim 7 wherein the housing upper edge projectsabove the fuel opening thereby to facilitate containment of fuelspillage during filling.
 10. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus of claim 1wherein the fuel is selected from the group consisting of isopropanoland ethanol in a liquid form.
 11. The liquid-fuel burner apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the liquid-fuel burner apparatus is dimensioned forremovable use with a wall-unit fireplace.